Newsletter

Police reports from Feb. 24, 2011

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Deputies make burglary arrest: St. Johns County Sheriff's deputies arrested four people in connection with two car burglaries off County Road 210 Thursday morning, according to a sheriff's office report.

Shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday, Deputy Craig Maguire was on routine patrol in the Southlake subdivision when he saw a man dressed in dark clothing walking toward an open garage on Prosperity Lake Drive, the report said.

A Toyota sedan was also parked in the center of the road in front of an empty house, according to the report.

Investigators found Courtnie Michelle Birkett, 17, crouched inside the car. She said she was there to pick up three men who unloaded equipment into her car and left again on foot, the report said. She told deputies that she didn't know what they were doing.

A short time later a witness contacted deputies, saying three men were seen at a nearby convenience store near Interstate 95. The witness said the men were looking for a ride and "appeared suspicious."

Deputies were able to catch and detain Robert Christopher Clark, 16, found inside the store; Joel Maldonado Cruz, 21; and Mitchell Stewart Cody, 20, who took off running from behind the store, the report said.

All four face charges of burglary, grand theft and resisting arrest without violence, among other charges.

Cruz and Birkett also face violation of probation charges. Cody is in jail on bonds totaling $8,000; Cruz is being held on no bond.

The two juveniles were booked, then released to a parent.

Additional charges are pending further investigation.

POLICE REPORTS

The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD):